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Treeleaf Global Service Days: April 12-26 2014

Our next Global Days of Service period is upon us!

Dear Treeleafers - as we approach our next service period there will be some of you for whom this is the first time you participate in the service effort - feel free to view the experiences in past threads of those who have gone out into the world to serve - for others this will be the second, or third, or fourth time that you are being asked to serve your community, your world. There are plenty of ideas in past threads - and I am sure new ones will be shared.

For some it will be an uncomfortable experiment, for others a chore to be gotten out of the way. For some it will be something to be performed but kept at arm's length like a dirty diaper or unpleasant conversation. For some it will just be a thread on the Forum that is read quickly and then forgotten, or a swipe of the debit card to benefit the charity that has sent us the most spam to our inbox. For me service was all these things - it was an imposition, an inconvenience, and a big question mark in terms of what in the world it had to do with Zazen and Zen Buddhist practice. My resistance was strong - I felt so sure sitting on the zafu in silence was far more dignified and "enlightened" than picking up trash or serving fellow human beings, or cleaning up shit.

Zazen is the core of our practice - make no mistake about that - but for our zazen to be real it must expand to encompass our life and all our actions - seamlessly with the world around us - instead of being something we do for a few minutes every day or so. In time it is no longer "ours" - it is part of the flow of life dancing with itself around us.

But I am a fool - I express myself so awkwardly that I will let Dostoevsky do it -

"Understand me: voluntary, fully conscious self-sacrifice, free of any outside constraint, of one's entire self for the benefit of all is, in my opinion, a mark of the highest development of individuality , of its highest power, its highest self-mastery, the highest freedom of one's own will."

It is appropriate I think to recall the Enso here - all things come back to the beginning - to find one's true self one must relinquish the self. To become an individual one must lose oneself in something larger than the boundaries of the stories we have created for ourselves, the narratives that provide the scaffolding of our identities, the identities that separate us from one another and serve as the basis for difference, conflict, and suffering.

Be careful. What you find in service to others, to sentient and insentient beings (are they any different?) may open wide new vistas to you....

Please share your experiences here - I'm particularly interested in knowing how the experience and meaning of service has changed for you over time... and several Global Day of Service periods.

We are pleased to commence our latest GLOBAL DAYS OF SERVICE initiative here at Treeleaf, April 12-26 2014. We will be asking each and all of our Treeleaf folks, in some way, to spend a day making their communities, the lives of others, this world a bit better. This is a chance to live the Virtues of Generosity and Giving, and our Bodhisattva Vows to Aid All Sentient Beings.

Please look for additional information, and ideas for activities suitable for you, in the ENGAGED & CHARITABLE PROJECTS CENTER of our forum here.

In fact, this is part of the "donation" we ask of you for participating in Treeleaf. Our Sangha is Freeing, but not Free ... and while we do not impose any fee for our activities here apart from voluntary donations,we do ask EVERYONE to roll up their sleeves and do something to help those truly in need.Please consider this a mandatory charge! Thus, I am going to ask every single person sitting in our Sangha, without exception, to join in this. This is not simply a matter of writing a check (though that is good too), but rather we will request "hands on" work of some kind taking a day or much of a day. Include the whole family, the kids, and make it a family event! No one type of activity will be required, although some activity is required of you, and there will be an activity suitable for each and all of you to choose, something for everyone despite busy schedules or physical limitations. There is always a way to help.

And here is a bit more on this from me, a talk I gave before our first Global Days a couple of years ago ...

Worldly wisdom tells us that to volunteer time, money, and energy on relief work is naïve and self-defeating. After all, our lives are short and fleeting; death lurks in the shadows and opportunities for enjoyment are scarce. We live in a competitive world where only the tough survive, and our first obligation is to be tough ourselves. So it seems far more sensible to use our precious resources promoting our own interests rather than the good of others, who rarely acknowledge our benevolence anyway.

When personal wealth is the means to maximize the enjoyment of life, and everyone around us is scrambling to get richer, why should we fall behind? Why not take in all the wondrous variety of life, its sweet delights and spicy thrills, rather than charge after windmills, equipped only with broomsticks and garbage-can lids? We know that dragons and demons are nothing but pipe dreams. And so too, we often suspect, are our hopes of improving the world.

To a calculating mind, a commitment to humanitarian service not only deprives us of benefits we could easily enjoy ourselves, but also forces us to face facts we would prefer to avoid. Our minds are conditioned by instinct and habit to seek out pleasure and turn away from pain. We try to steer clear of anything that threatens us personally, but we also feel uneasy when we’re exposed to the pain of others. We like images of laughing children, fields of bright flowers, well-trimmed lawns, packaged breakfast cereals, and dancers gently swaying in pink and purple spotlights. Images of hungry people in distant lands spoil the fun.
To engage in relief work is, in a way, to swim against the current, to go against the drift of those around us. Like Dharma practice itself, it calls for patience, effort, mindfulness, and renunciation. So what can we rely on to sustain us in this work, to help us move against the current? One sustaining quality is expressed by the Pali word saddha, usually translated as faith. In this context, faith doesn’t mean belief in specific doctrines, not even the doctrines of Buddhism. In the sense intended here, faith might best be described as a confidence in the power of goodness. This is the conviction that to do good is inherently valuable, an activity that brings deep gratification and attunes us to a force greater than our individual being.

When we devote ourselves to service to others, inevitably we expose ourselves to risk. There is the risk that we’ll burn out; the risk that we’ll be mocked by others; the risk that our actions won’t be
appreciated; the risk that our best intentions will meet with failure. But despite these risks, when we’re willing to take chances, when we persist in our efforts to serve the good of others, the reason is that we’re sustained by faith. And that means faith in the intrinsic power of goodness: in its claims upon our conscience; in its ability to uplift us, crack us open, and connect us to a greater reality.
To have this kind of faith is to trust that behind the play of surface events, which appear so random and discrete, there lies a hidden power, a unifying force that will enable us to prevail over any
obstacles we meet. Where the intellect dithers, faith invites us to take the leap. It gives us the confidence that this force will bring us more abundant happiness than we could ever find by
pursuing the narrow goals of the ego, be it wealth, power, status, or fame.

We might compare this trust to that of a child learning to swim. At first glance, for the child to jump into the water is a reckless act. Throw a stone into the water and it sinks to the bottom; throw yourself into the water and you’re also bound to sink. Yet, when the child does jump into the pool, and then lets go, something amazing happens. The water supports her and gently buoys her up. She doesn’t sink but floats, and with practice she can learn to swim.

In a similar way, faith in the power of goodness cuts through doubt and hesitation, enabling us to float along on the current of the cosmic process. Common sense is like the person who tells the child she’ll sink like a stone. It tries to convince us that the purpose of our lives is to do whatever strikes our fancy, to consume and discard, to push our way to the top. It tells us that we’re perfectly entitled to use others as stepping-stones to our personal advancement.

But at Buddhist Global Relief, a different way of thinking guides our work. We regard people as ends and not as means. We consider them worthy of respect, as deserving a chance to live with hope and dignity. We rely on the faith that a law, a principle, an inner truth is silently at work behind the field of phenomena, supporting generosity over miserliness, compassion over apathy, and altruism over selfishness. Hidden by the face of appearances, it’s always there, as integral to the working of the universe as the dance of electrons, the binding of atoms into molecules, the ceaseless pulsing of the stars.
When we place trust in this law, we find that devoting ourselves to the good of others casts our own lives in a new light. It pulls down the hard walls of our self-identity; it strengthens our energy and determination; it expands our sense of shared identity until it encompasses the whole. This faith turns labor into love, self-sacrifice into ultimate self-fulfillment. And with that we acquire an enriching sense of purpose, a fountain of meaning more rewarding than all the petty trophies of the ego-self.

This is going to be a difficult one for me as I am experiencing a flare-up of illness and struggling just to do the basics of living. I hope to do something more substantial than swipe the credit card but global service periods do challenge me to be creative with limited energy and mobility.

The efforts of many of you are inspiring. Thank you for your work and practice.

Andy,
You are the one who inspires with your commitment and insight. I have no doubt that you will use your considerable talent, perspective, and creative energy to teach us something about Engaged Projects in the process of finding a way to be of service, as you do in so many areas of this Sangha.

My wife and I have begun discussing ideas. There are so many things. Although I deal with some difficult situations at work already, I'm hoping to step out of my comfort zone as best I can. My wife is recovering from a car accident. She has a badly broken hand (thankfully no other injuries.. Can't say the same about the car). She is still interested in doing something. We don't share the same religious beliefs, but serving others is a common denominator.

Gassho, Entai

円
泰 Entai (Bill)
"trying to shovel smoke with a pitchfork in the wind "- John Lennon

Thanks Jundo....Super busy and a lot going on....but I will ponder this and come up with some type of contribution. Maybe the best time to think about service is when you are under immense pressure?
Gassho,
Jisen/BrianW

Thanks for this everyone. I am inspired. In a recent video posted by Taigu, I recall what Claude Anshin Thomas said about "engaged" Buddhism. He said that he found this term strange because he didn't ever understand Buddhism to be anything but engaged.

Currently my contribution is to pick up my efforts in helping the local Boy Scouts of America. I have volunteered to be the troop training coordinator; making sure all adult leaders are current with not only their Scout Leadership training but up to date with issues such as Youth Protection training. It isn't glamorous but someone has to do it.

In the back of my mind however I have an idea emerging about a free/ donation only clinic for post traumatic stress and addiction, as an ongoing service. Will have to ponder how/ where this would work, but it would be a way I could implement my skills to help other's suffering.

Hmmm, I wonder once again why so few seem to participate here. Why is that? What can we do about that?

Anyway, I was happy to play softball with some wheelchair and mentally challenged kids for the day. They ran me ragged.

Gassho, Jundo

PS - Sometimes (like now) I think about what would happen if we closed the doors of Treeleaf to anyone who did not participate or had some darn good excuse why not. Shall we? Perhaps folks misunderstand what Buddhist Practice should be about.

I got the day off. I really enjoy doing this kind of stuff with my kids. The kids seem to like it too. I hope it's teaching them something but they're probably just happy to get out and get dirty with "Dad's blessing". ;-)

Gassho

Shugen

As a priest in training, please take everything I say with a pinch of salt

I have been picking up trash but with car repairs and deposits due I am unable to help financially. I have not come across any local opportunities for volunteering so I have been mostly just cleaning my neighborhood. Didn't really feel the need to post or brag about it, but I guess I must post my excuses or risk getting kicked out of Treeleaf?

I was thinking about how I could help this year and found that I can volunteer my time and my vehicle and drive other volunteers around with Meals on Wheels. We will be going out on Wednesday and Thursday of this week and delivering both cooked and non-cooked food to elderly folks and folks who are not mobile. Will report back. =)

Gassho
Shingen

RINDO SHINGEN
倫道 真現

As a trainee priest, please take any commentary by me on matters of the Dharma with a pinch of salt.

I had to change my original plans:
Someone close to me has huge problems with her teenage daughter and in order to avoid things getting even worse (I don't want to go into details, but the whole future of her daughter could be affected), I decided to help. I don't know if my efforts will be effective, but I'll try nonetheless.
My efforts will probably be an ongoing "project" in the next months, this cannot be solved in a week or two (if at all - I am still pretty clueless what else I can do).

I think that sounds like a very worthwhile use of time, Daitetsu. Sometimes outside attention can make a great difference to a teen.
How many of us are saving the world? Mother Teresa said that few of us can do great things but we can all do small things with great love.

My own efforts have centered on writing letters on behalf of political prisoners based on actions at the Amnesty website. Also to the Home Secretary to protest the proposed deportation of LGBT people back to countries in which they may face emprisonment or death.

As a part of the TGSD, i'e donated the money i've gotten from the public speeches i've made to charity.
I've also, along with Filur and Jannica, helped out with springcleaninga and pruning peoples trees and gardens, something we do every year.

I am new here, and I was not going to post about my project but Jundo's post, above, put The Fear into me, so here goes. My project was very small: I chose 3 acquaintances nearby who are elderly, disabled, & somewhat isolated. I blocked out 3 hours for each one on separate days. I then found an excuse to stop by and visit. My intention was to really give them my full attention, not be in any kind of hurry, and just listen and engage, and let the conversation go wherever they wanted, for as long as they wanted. I am shy but I just concentrated on them instead of me. The conversations were so wonderful! I think people have a real need to tell their story and have someone actually listen. I brought each a small gift to brighten the day: tea for one, an Easter lily, a small windchime. So I didn't save the world, but maybe next time. All together I spent about 5 1/2 hours visiting. I think for good measure I will check out that prison book program. Next time I will think of something more service-y to do. Thank you Jundo and Taigu for making this happen

I am new here, and I was not going to post about my project but Jundo's post, above, put The Fear into me, so here goes. My project was very small: I chose 3 acquaintances nearby who are elderly, disabled, & somewhat isolated. I blocked out 3 hours for each one on separate days. I then found an excuse to stop by and visit. My intention was to really give them my full attention, not be in any kind of hurry, and just listen and engage, and let the conversation go wherever they wanted, for as long as they wanted. I am shy but I just concentrated on them instead of me. The conversations were so wonderful! I think people have a real need to tell their story and have someone actually listen. I brought each a small gift to brighten the day: tea for one, an Easter lily, a small windchime. So I didn't save the world, but maybe next time. All together I spent about 5 1/2 hours visiting. I think for good measure I will check out that prison book program. Next time I will think of something more service-y to do. Thank you Jundo and Taigu for making this happen

They build schools, with a focus on schools for girls, in Pakistan and other areas. Check it out if you like! I read Greg Mortenson's book, Three Cups of Tea, and I wanted to donate to them eventually. Glad I remembered!

I am still continuing with my project baking for the community shop in the village. The shop run for volunteers for the village whose population which has quite a high percentage of elderly people. who can't easily get to the main shops some miles away. I bake the bread on most Saturdays getting up very early sitting with Treeleaf Zazenkai and then baking the bread.

I charge the community shop only for the ingredients used for the bread making no profit from it, then I put the money towards setting up a Zendo - better than saving I think.

One of my "concerns" of this practice, has been that working so hard on realizing the non-self , self could get, well downright self absorbed. I know that this is a common criticism of Buddhism, but I know from my experience here that this isn't the case. Still, I can understand Jundo's statement above about participating.

My feeling is that hopefully some of the wonderful things people here are doing, will inspire and rub off on those who aren't. Like the girl only able to save some of the starfish on the beach. I am truly inspired by the practice displayed here; each of us working on the starfish as we are able. Maybe getting a little bit more wet each time.
Gassho
C

Just an update ... donate two days last week to the Meals on Wheels by volunteering my time and vehicle to drive another volunteer and deliver groceries. I have to say it was a wonderful experience all around. It was great to get out there and do/engage this beautiful practice, but to also see the joy and gratitude on the faces of the people we were helping. =)

Gassho
Shingen

RINDO SHINGEN
倫道 真現

As a trainee priest, please take any commentary by me on matters of the Dharma with a pinch of salt.

As life has been a little crazy this last months, I have just a little time to do any project, so this time was donations to a couple of NGOs and help everybody in any little way I could, move some furniture, take care of a relative's kid, assist a family in a wake/funeral.....just life as it is, I suppose

Thank you, Jundo. I have my own little story to share. Before I joined Treeleaf sangha, I wanted to become a teacher's assistant (called an EA--Educational Assistant) HOwever, I decided against it, as many EA's do more than work in general classroom supervision, they also deal with special needs children, changing diapers and the whole bit and I just didn't think I could do that kind of work. Many of the teachings at Treeleaf, specifically everything being the Buddha (yes, even shit) have really made me change my mind. I am now working as an EA, often spending my days working with special needs kids changing diapers, wiping drool off their faces etc. etc.etc. I actually am going to school for this line of work also and am hoping that I can make this a career. So thank you, Jundo and Taigu, as I view each day that I work as a global day of service, doing my best to be a Bodhisattva to all these children who will always have extra developmental challenges to deal with.

Gassho,
Joyo

p.s.--I don't view myself as anything special, now that I do this line of work. In fact, it is very humbling and definitely reminds me of the dharma talk about the "person of no rank" that person being me. I just have wanted to share this here for quite some time now.

Thank you, Jundo. I have my own little story to share. Before I joined Treeleaf sangha, I wanted to become a teacher's assistant (called an EA--Educational Assistant) HOwever, I decided against it, as many EA's do more than work in general classroom supervision, they also deal with special needs children, changing diapers and the whole bit and I just didn't think I could do that kind of work. Many of the teachings at Treeleaf, specifically everything being the Buddha (yes, even shit) have really made me change my mind. I am now working as an EA, often spending my days working with special needs kids changing diapers, wiping drool off their faces etc. etc.etc. I actually am going to school for this line of work also and am hoping that I can make this a career. So thank you, Jundo and Taigu, as I view each day that I work as a global day of service, doing my best to be a Bodhisattva to all these children who will always have extra developmental challenges to deal with.

Gassho,
Joyo

p.s.--I don't view myself as anything special, now that I do this line of work. In fact, it is very humbling and definitely reminds me of the dharma talk about the "person of no rank" that person being me. I just have wanted to share this here for quite some time now.